Franklin County schools to educate on college financial aid

In preparation for financial aid season, schools throughout Franklin County are hosting evening events to keep families up to speed on the process.

High school seniors who will be attending college next year will need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to start the process. Deadline to complete FAFSA is May 1.

High schools have created either financial aid information nights, FAFSA completion nights or both.

In all FAFSA workshops, parents should bring their 2012 W-2s, federal income tax returns, any other records regarding untaxed income and any records of investments.

- Chambersburg: CASHS will host a financial aid night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14 in the auditorium. All students and their parents/mentors are encouraged to attend.

The financial aid night will be followed by a series of computer workshop nights at CASHS from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19, 20 and 21. Computer labs will be open and the school will have financial aid representatives present to assist with completing the online FAFSA and Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency forms.

Feb. 19 is designated for first-generation students, Feb. 20 for English as a second language students and Feb. 21 for the general school population.

A financial aid representative from Penn State Mont Alto, as well as Allison Moesda from the Foundation for Enhancing Communities will be in attendance to answer questions. Parents are encourage to bring forms and financial information along for a FAFSA workshop.

- Greencastle-Antrim: G-A will conduct its first of two FAFSA workshops at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school library. A workshop will also be at 7 p.m. Jan. 24. PHEAA representative Dan Wray will be available to answer college financial aid questions.

Families that are planning to attend should, to the best of their abilities, complete the 2013-2014 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet and bring it with them to the workshop. The form can be found by visiting the FAFSA website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/ffdef44.htm. For additional questions about the workshops or to obtain a paper copy of the worksheet, families may contact GAHS College Adviser Gilbert Bonafé at gbonafe@greencastle.k12.pa.us or 597-3226, Ext. 10521.

- James Buchanan: The high school will host a FAFSA Completion Evening at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the school's library. Wray is to attend the event to assist families and answer questions. The FAFSA night follows three financial aid nights that were conducted in December.

In addition, college adviser Matt Holt from the National College Advising Corps works in the high school five days per week to help students with the general financial aid process, among other duties.

- Waynesboro: WASHS will conduct a Financial Aid Night at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the auditorium. Wray will be attending the event for PHEAA.

A drop-in FAFSA workshop will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the library and computer lab. Dr. Sandra Tarbox, director of Shippensburg University's Financial Aid Office and Rachel Richards, associate director of Financial Aid, will be available to assist families with completing FAFSA forms.

- Fannett-Metal: Wray will present a FAFSA overview to junior and senior parents at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 in the school's cafeteria. Prior to the meeting, the school will be offering one-hour time slots for any parent who seeks assistance from Wray to complete the form.

----------

Brian Hall can be reached at 262-4811 and bkhall@publicopinionnews.com, or follow him on Twitter @bkhallpo.